97 dodge neon having overheating problem

vanilla8807 · #1 03-22-2006, 06:43 PM

Can someone help me I have a 1997 Dodge Neon and I need help.My temperature gauge is reading that my car is overheating but then it fluctuates to hot to normal and then back to hot again. It's not bubbling over nor is it steaming. And my fans did not seem like they were running either. It just started to do this today even though in the past week weeks while I'd be driving it, it would sometime go to hot, I would pull over and it would go back to normal again. Oh and I keep having to put water in the radiator. Please if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

neon_rt · #2 03-22-2006, 07:07 PM

Sounds like you head gasket is leaking.You are getting air bubbles in the water and then the pump can't get the water to pump through. When you idle for a minute or shut it off the bubbles have a chance to float to the top and then the pump can circulate the water again until you get another air bubble in the pump.

das2123 · #3 03-22-2006, 08:59 PM

Are you just putting water in or are you putting coolant in also? Water will boil off? Make sure your fans are kicking on by checking the relay.

vanilla8807 · #4 03-23-2006, 10:58 PM

Ok Here was my first post YESTERDAY.

Can someone help me I have a 1997 Dodge Neon and I need help.My temperature gauge is reading that my car is overheating but then it fluctuates to hot to normal and then back to hot again. It's not bubbling over nor is it steaming. And my fans did not seem like they were running either. It just started to do this today even though in the past week weeks while I'd be driving it, it would sometime go to hot, I would pull over and it would go back to normal again. Oh and I keep having to put water in the radiator. Please if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

NOW HERE IS WHAT I DID TODAY

Ok I took the thermostat out of the car, and let it sit & idle for at least 20 minutes. It ran perfectly fine, the fans kicks on, the gugage never went to H, stayed fine. But once you go to drive it, not even a half mile, it went straight to hot. Didn't show any signs of boiling or steaming at all. I decided to try something, I had bought a new radiator cap but ever since I had put on the new one, this problem seemed to start. So I decided to changed the radiator cap back to the old one but with the old cap, water would sometimes boil out all around the cap. But with the old cap on, the car's temp guage goes staight to normal as soon as you start the car. Drove it about a mile, and it didn't overheat. Anyone got anymore suggestions to what may be happening.

vanilla8807 · #5 03-23-2006, 10:59 PM

Ok Here was my first post YESTERDAY.

Can someone help me I have a 1997 Dodge Neon and I need help.My temperature gauge is reading that my car is overheating but then it fluctuates to hot to normal and then back to hot again. It's not bubbling over nor is it steaming. And my fans did not seem like they were running either. It just started to do this today even though in the past week weeks while I'd be driving it, it would sometime go to hot, I would pull over and it would go back to normal again. Oh and I keep having to put water in the radiator. Please if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

NOW HERE IS WHAT I DID TODAY

Ok I took the thermostat out of the car, and let it sit & idle for at least 20 minutes. It ran perfectly fine, the fans kicks on, the guage never went to H, stayed fine. But once you go to drive it, not even a half mile, it went straight to hot. Didn't show any signs of boiling or steaming at all. I decided to try something, I had bought a new radiator cap but ever since I had put on the new one, this problem seemed to start. So I decided to changed the radiator cap back to the old one but with the old cap, water would sometimes boil out all around the cap. But with the old cap on, the car's temp guage goes straight to normal as soon as you start the car. Drove it about a mile, and it didn't overheat. Anyone got anymore suggestions to what may be happening.

vanilla8807 · #6 03-23-2006, 10:59 PM

Ok Here was my first post YESTERDAY.

Can someone help me I have a 1997 Dodge Neon and I need help.My temperature gauge is reading that my car is overheating but then it fluctuates to hot to normal and then back to hot again. It's not bubbling over nor is it steaming. And my fans did not seem like they were running either. It just started to do this today even though in the past week weeks while I'd be driving it, it would sometime go to hot, I would pull over and it would go back to normal again. Oh and I keep having to put water in the radiator. Please if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

NOW HERE IS WHAT I DID TODAY

Ok I took the thermostat out of the car, and let it sit & idle for at least 20 minutes. It ran perfectly fine, the fans kicks on, the guage never went to H, stayed fine. But once you go to drive it, not even a half mile, it went straight to hot. Didn't show any signs of boiling or steaming at all. I decided to try something, I had bought a new radiator cap but ever since I had put on the new one, this problem seemed to start. So I decided to changed the radiator cap back to the old one but with the old cap, water would sometimes boil out all around the cap. But with the old cap on, the car's temp guage goes straight to normal as soon as you start the car. Drove it about a mile, and it didn't overheat. Anyone got anymore suggestions to what may be happening.

BlazerLT · #7 03-24-2006, 01:50 AM

head gasket or your water pump is shot.

das2123 · #8 03-24-2006, 09:01 AM

Are you adding engine coolant with the water? It's supposed to a 50/50 mixture! If your headgasket is shot, you should see oil the coolant and/or coolant in your oil. Your radiator might be going out on you too. I suggest doing a radiator flush first.

neon_rt · #9 03-24-2006, 12:33 PM

Head gaskets on these tend to start leaking lock clockwork when you reach 100K miles. I've played the same game you are a couple of times and it turned out to be head gasket both times.

BlazerLT · #10 03-24-2006, 01:39 PM

Yes, until they installed the MLS gasket from the factory.

The upgraded gasket is a MLS as well when you replace a stock gasket from 1998 and earlier.

das2123 · #11 03-24-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Yes, until they installed the MLS gasket from the factory.

The upgraded gasket is a MLS as well when you replace a stock gasket from 1998 and earlier.

The MLS didn't go into production until 11/98 so early to mid 98's won't have it either.

BlazerLT · #12 03-24-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by das2123

The MLS didn't go into production until 11/98 so early to mid 98's won't have it either.

11/98 manufacturing was for 1999 models.

das2123 · #13 03-24-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

11/98 manufacturing was for 1999 models.

I know, I have one

BlazerLT · #14 03-24-2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by das2123

I know, I have one

Yes, but I was clarifying that no one with a 1998 has the updated gasket since the 1998's started production in mid 1997.

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